The Covid-19 spike amongst Premier League clubs has continued to wreak havoc on Thursday, amid confirmation of no fewer than five of this weekend’s scheduled fixtures being postponed.
PL ravaged
To say that English football authorities have been placed on red alert across the week to date would of course be something of an understatement.
As the campaign enters the usually hectic festive fixture list, the powers-that-be governing the Premier League landscape have been left with little choice but to postpone a rake of fixtures.
This comes as a whole host of top-flight clubs are forced to deal with the fallout from a surge in Covid-19 cases.
The likes of Tottenham Hotspur, Watford, Leicester City and Brentford have all seen their plans thrown into disarray, amid enforced periods of self isolation on the part of playing and backroom staff alike.
Ralf Rangnick’s Manchester United, meanwhile, saw their scheduled showdown with Brighton & Hove Albion this coming weekend cancelled earlier today, as cases continue to spike at Old Trafford:
The Premier League have confirmed that Saturday’s fixture with Brighton has been postponed.#MUFC | #MUNBHA
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 16, 2021
Everton vs Leicester amongst games called off
And, as alluded to above, late on Thursday, the situation has only continued to worsen.
Chelsea and Liverpool, both primed to take to the pitch shortly, have seen key members of their respective squads struck down by Covid over the space of the last couple of hours:
Fabinho, Curtis Jones and Virgil van Dijk will miss tonight’s Premier League fixture against Newcastle United after registering suspected positive tests for COVID-19.
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 16, 2021
In turn, to assure that such last-minute chaos is not forthcoming over the weekend, the Premier League have this evening sprung into action.
As confirmed in an official statement a short time ago, the scheduled meetings between all of Southampton and Brentford, Watford and Crystal Palace, West Ham and Norwich, and Everton and Leicester, have been cancelled.
Adding to Manchester United’s postponed clash with Brighton, this means that, as things stand, just five fixtures are set to go ahead in the English top-flight this weekend.
The #PL Board has postponed a further four matches due to be played this weekend because of an increase in positive COVID-19 cases
Full details: https://t.co/9rUcsajUAj#SOUBRE | #WATCRY | #WHUNOR | #EVELEI pic.twitter.com/NeoGSHSF6t
— Premier League (@premierleague) December 16, 2021
Liverpool vs Newcastle United live streaming: Watch Premier League online
Chelsea vs Everton live streaming: Watch Premier League online